Manhole cover lifting device

ABSTRACT

A device for freeing and lifting a manhole cover comprising a lever capable of spanning and projecting beyond diametrically opposite marginal edges of the cover and the complemental embedded seating ring. A fulcruming bracket is fixed at right angles on one end of the lever and, when in use, rests solidly atop the street curb or other support surface. Adapter cups are fixed on the other end of the lever and are selectively usable for end thrust reception of the standard of a removable hydraulic jack. A collar-type hanger is shiftably mounted on the median portion of the lever and is equipped with an adjustable L-shaped hook, whose bill portion is detachably connectible with the liftable cover.

United States Patent [191 Mosley [451 Jan. 21, 1975 MANHOLE COVER LIFTING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Robert L. Mosley, 4268 S. 4300 West, Hooper, Utah 84315 [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 433,469

[52] 11.8. C1. 254/124 [51] Int. Cl B66f 3/22 [58] Field of Search 254/93 R, 126, 105, 123, 254/29 R,30, 131, 132

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 28,856 6/1860 Hamlyn 254/124 86,994 2/1869 Metzger 254/124 168,153 9/1875 Hale 254/124 522,315 7/1894 Burke 254/123 812,757 3/1906 Stark 254/124 1,043,223 11/1912 Grady 254/132 3,526,387 9/1970 Fleming 254/30 Primary Examiner-Othell M. Simpson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A device for freeing and lifting a manhole cover comprising a lever capable of spanning and projecting beyond diametrically opposite marginal edges of the cover and the complemental embedded seating ring. A fulcruming bracket is fixed at right angles on one end of the lever and, when in use, rests solidly atop the street curb or other support surface. Adapter cups are fixed on the other end of the lever and are selectively usable for end thrust reception of the standard of a removable hydraulic jack. A collar-type hanger is shiftably mounted on the median portion of the lever and is equipped with an adjustable L-shaped hook, whose bill portion is detachably connectible with the liftable cover.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 21, 1975 MANHOLE COVER LIFTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention-relates to a portable manhole cover loosening and lifting device characterized by an elongated rod which functions as a lever and which has fulcruming means at one end, a hoisting and tilting jack at its other end and a suspended cover engaging and lifting hook intermediate its ends.

2. Description of the Prior Art An object of the instant invention, generally stated, is to improve upon and reduce the number of parts entering into the combination, thereby not only increasing the efficiency of the structure as a whole, but also rendering the same less costily to manufacture and to otherwise simplify factors of assemblying, sale and expeditious expedient use.

For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention relates reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 28,856, of June 26, 1860, granted to Hamlyn. Reference may also be made to a patent to Burke, U.S. Pat. No. 522,315, granted on July 3, 1894.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the herein disclosed invention constitutes an advance in the art in that an elongated, rigid rod or tube of requisite length provides a lever, said lever being provided at its surface-supported end with a right-angled H-shaped adapter bracket. The component horizontal portions of this bracket provide selectively usable surface engaging and fulcruming members whether the device is used on a substantially flat street surface or in conjunction with gutter grating and an associated curb. Diametrically opposite cup members are fixed to the opposite end and serve as selectively usable sockets or receivers for the upright or standard of the applicable and removable hydraulic jack. An L-shaped hook is constructed such that the lower bill portion thereof can be engaged with the manhole or grating as the case may be. The hook is adjustably mounted between the legs carried by a slidingly mounted collar, said collar serving as a shiftable hanger for the hook.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a manhole cover lifting device constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing how it is constructed and readied for use and also showing the applicable and removable hydraulic jack at the left.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view with the component parts of the device appearing in elevation and showing how the usual ring-supported manhole cover is adapted to be freed and lifted by the applied device.

FIG. '3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing how the device lends itself to use in engaging and lifting a gutter grating during which time the aforementioned fulcruming bracket is turned upside down so that the then-used fulcrum may be seated atop the associated curb.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference in particular to theoverall ready-touse device depicted in FIG. 1, it will be observed that the elongated tubular or solid rod member 6 constitutes the desired arm or lever 8. One end portion 10 of this lever is provided the aforementioned right angular disposed rigid fulcruming bracket 12. This bracket is preferably H-shaped in construction and comprises selectively usable fulcrum members 14 and I6 centrally connected by a complemental connector member 18.

The other end portion 20 is provided with fixed adapter means, that is means which serves to accommodate the applicable and removable conventionaltype hydraulic jack 22. The adapter means more specifically comprises socket members each of which comprises a socket or receiver. More specifically, the upper cup or socket member in FIG. 1 is denoted by the numeral 24 and is fixed on a flange or plate 26 which in turn is superimposed on the top surface of the end portion 20 and is welded in place as at 28. The underneath or diametrically opposite cup or receiver is denoted by the numeral 30, and it too is surmounted on a rectangular or equivalent plate 32 which is welded in place as at 34. The lever-8 and component parts at the respective ends can be rotated approximately throughout a half circle to achieve the usable results as shown, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. In any event, the headed stem of the standard of the jack, that is the part denoted at 36, is usable in conjunction with the cups in the manner brought out in FIGS. 2 and 3. The base or flange 38 of the jack is of usual construction and in actual practice serves as a holddown member for the shouldered annular ring 40, that is the embedded ring which serves to accommodate the manhole cover 42. The operating handle of the jack is denoted at 44.

The readily applicable and removable L-shaped lifting hook is denoted at 46, the bill portion 48 being releasably engageable with the slot provided therefor at 50 in FIG. 2. The eye 52 on the upper end of the shank 54 is releasably and adjustably positional between depending spaced parallel legs 56 carried by a collar 58. This collar is slidingly mounted on the intermediate portion of the lever and performs in what is believed to be a substantially self-evident manner and may vary for adaptation for use with various types of manhole covers and the like. The legs are provided with bolt holes 60 to accommodate the insertable and removable assemblying and retaining bolt 62, that is the bolt which serves to attach the eye-equipped end of the shank 54 to the legs. The overall hanger is conveniently denoted by the numeral 64.

The manner in which the component parts are individually and cojointly constructed is evident from FIG. 1 wherein it will be seen that the aforementioned hydraulic jack is readily applicable and removable and is capable of being selectively connected for operation with the upper and lower socket-like cups 24 and 30 as the case may be. The manner in which the device is associated with the ring 40 and manhole cover 42 and supporting surface 66 is brought out in FIG. 2 is selfevident.

The manner in which it is used in conjunction with the gutter grating 68 and curb 70 is brought out in FIG. 3. Accordingly, a more extended description is thought to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A manhole cover ring holddown, cover freeing and lifting device comprising: a rigid lever adapted to assume a horizontal in-use position and of a length capable of spanning and projecting beyond the outer marginal edge portions of said cover and ring, respectively, a lever fulcruming bracket fixedly mounted on one end of said lever and adapted to rest solidly atop the curb or other support surface bordering said ring, adapter means affixed to the other end of said lever, a readily applicable and removable lever actuating jack aligned, engageably and cooperable with said adapter means, a cover dislodging and lifting hook having a lower end separably but liftably connectible with said cover, and a hanger for said hook retentively but adjustably mounted on a median portion of said lever and embodying means to which the upper end of said hook can be operatively connected and by way of which it is suspended.

2. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 1, and wherein said hanger comprises a collar which is shiftably slidable on said lever, said collar having depending spaced parallel depending legs, the upper end of the shank of said hook being vertically adjustably connected with said legs.

3. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 2, wherein the upper end of the shank of said hook is provided with a mounting eye which is located between said legs, said legs having registering bolt holes, and a nut-equipped bolt having a screw-threaded shank passing through said eye and selected coordinating ones of said bolt holes in a manner to retentively but detachably connect said shank to said legs.

4. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 1, and wherein said adapter means comprises cup-like socket members fixed to said other end of said lever.

5. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 1 and wherein said adapter means comprises cuplike socket members fixed to said other end of said lever, said socket members being positioned diametrically opposite each other, said lever being axially turnable from a given first position to a predetermined second position, whereby the socket members are selectively usable relative to the elevatable standard of said jack,

6. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 1, and wherein said lever bracket is H-shaped, is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said lever and can be caused to assume a depending vertical position or, alternatively, a vertically disposed upstanding position.

7. A manhole cover lifting device comprising an elongated rigid member providing a lever, a bracket positioned at right angles to and fixedly joined with one end portion of said lever having opposed bearing surfaces and providing lever fulcruming and elevating means, opposed socket members fixed to the other end portion of said lever and providing selectively usable jack acoperatively connected with said fastener. 

1. A manhole cover ring holddown, cover freeing and lifting device comprising: a rigid lever adapted to assume a horizontal in-use position and of a length capable of spanning and projecting beyond the outer marginal edge portions of said cover and ring, respectively, a lever fulcruming bracket fixedly mounted on one end of said lever and adapted to rest solidly atop the curb or other support surface bordering said ring, adapter means affixed to the other end of said lever, a readily applicable and removable lever actuating jack aligned, engageably and cooperable with said adapter means, a cover dislodging and lifting hook having a lower end separably but liftably connectible with said cover, and a hanger for said hook retentively but adjustably mounted on a median portion of said lever and embodying means to which the upper end of said hook can be operatively connected and by way of which it is suspended.
 2. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 1, and wherein said hanger comprises a collar which is shiftably slidable on said lever, said collar having depending spaced parallel depending legs, the upper end of the shank of said hook being vertically adjustably connected with said legs.
 3. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 2, wherein the upper end of the shank of said hook is provided with a mounting eye which is located between said legs, said legs having registering bolt holes, and a nut-equipped bolt having a screw-threaded shank passing through said eye and selected coordinating ones of said bolt holes in a manner to retentively but detachably connect said shank to said legs.
 4. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 1, and wherein said adapter means comprises cup-like socket members fixed to said other end of said lever.
 5. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 1 and wherein said adapter means comprises cup-like socket members fixed to said other end of said lever, said socket members being positioned diametrically opposite each other, said lever being axially turnable from a given first position to a predetermined second position, whereby the socket members are selectively usable relative to the elevatable standard of said jack.
 6. The cover freeing and lifting device defined in claim 1, and wherein said lever bracket is H-shaped, is disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said lever and can be caused to assume a depending vertical position or, alternatively, a vertically disposed upstanding position.
 7. A manhole cover lifting device comprising an elongated rigid member providing a lever, a bracket positioned at right angles to and fixedly joined with one end portion of said lever having opposed bearing surfaces and providing lever fulcruming and elevating means, opposed socket members fixed to the other end portion of said lever and providing selectively usable jack accommodating socket members, a manhole cover lifting hook, and a hanger for said hook associatively cooperable with an intermediate portion of said lever.
 8. The cover lifting device defined in claim 7, and wherein said hanger comprises a collar rotatably surrounding and shiftably mounted on said lever, said collar having spaced paralled legs equipped with a vertically adjustable fastener, said hook embodying a shank provided with an eye interposed between said legs and operatively connected with said fastener. 